Park would be an asset for Flat Rock

Published: Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 7:52 p.m.

Flat Rock Village Council should buy Highland Lake Golf Club to create a park, especially now that leaders have determined the village can afford to do so without raising taxes.

A financial analysis that Vice Mayor Nick Weedman presented Monday should make it an easy decision for council to act, possibly as early as its meeting today.

Based on numbers from an exploratory committee’s report, it would cost the village about $1.21 million through 2019 to operate the park — about $200,000 per year. Building the 66-acre park would shrink the village’s fund balance from $5.6 million to slightly more than $3 million by 2019.

Weedman, the village’s finance officer, said the village should be able to build the park in phases over several years and thus avoid having to raise taxes. He outlined a plan to spend $1.4 million in 2013 to get the park up and running, and roughly $982,000 over the next six years, assuming $200,000 in donations for a playground in 2016-17 and a $460,000 state grant.

Opponents of building a park have mostly expressed concerns about the impact on village finances and taxes. Several said they were reconsidering their opposition after hearing Weedman’s presentation. While some folks remain opposed, most of the 60 people who showed up at Monday’s public hearing expressed strong support for a park in Flat Rock.

There are several good reasons for the village to build a park, including strong public support. Many residents who opposed the idea of the county building a soccer complex at the site in 2011 are much more accepting of the village’s plan for a “passive” park, with walking trails but no ballfields.

And as we stated last month, the village has a limited window to acquire the property in order to qualify in the current cycle for state grants for parks. The Highland Lake Park Exploratory Committee has already applied for a grant from the N.C. Parks and Recreational Trust Fund. Village leaders say they want to make a decision before April 1 on whether to buy the property in order to give owners of the property time to plan.

It may not be possible for village leaders to issue an ironclad guarantee that having a park will never, ever require a tax increase. But with such a healthy reserve fund, the village should be able to build the park with careful budgeting that avoids the need to raise taxes.

Among the many reasons for Flat Rock to seize this opportunity is the chance to protect a valuable gateway to the village from possible development while providing residents of all ages with places to exercise and play. Longtime resident Cam Boyd was right to call it “an opportunity that village council cannot pass up at this point” and “the single most important thing that this council can do to benefit Flat Rock’s future.”

Flat Rock leaders have done an outstanding job of soliciting public input on this project. Barring unforeseen roadblocks, council should buy the golf course and begin the work of creating a park that will become a source of pride and a focal point for the community.

<p>Flat Rock Village Council should buy Highland Lake Golf Club to create a park, especially now that leaders have determined the village can afford to do so without raising taxes.</p><p>A financial analysis that Vice Mayor Nick Weedman presented Monday should make it an easy decision for council to act, possibly as early as its meeting today.</p><p>Based on numbers from an exploratory committee’s report, it would cost the village about $1.21 million through 2019 to operate the park  about $200,000 per year. Building the 66-acre park would shrink the village’s fund balance from $5.6 million to slightly more than $3 million by 2019.</p><p>Weedman, the village’s finance officer, said the village should be able to build the park in phases over several years and thus avoid having to raise taxes. He outlined a plan to spend $1.4 million in 2013 to get the park up and running, and roughly $982,000 over the next six years, assuming $200,000 in donations for a playground in 2016-17 and a $460,000 state grant.</p><p>Opponents of building a park have mostly expressed concerns about the impact on village finances and taxes. Several said they were reconsidering their opposition after hearing Weedman’s presentation. While some folks remain opposed, most of the 60 people who showed up at Monday’s public hearing expressed strong support for a park in Flat Rock.</p><p>There are several good reasons for the village to build a park, including strong public support. Many residents who opposed the idea of the county building a soccer complex at the site in 2011 are much more accepting of the village’s plan for a passive park, with walking trails but no ballfields.</p><p>And as we stated last month, the village has a limited window to acquire the property in order to qualify in the current cycle for state grants for parks. The Highland Lake Park Exploratory Committee has already applied for a grant from the N.C. Parks and Recreational Trust Fund. Village leaders say they want to make a decision before April 1 on whether to buy the property in order to give owners of the property time to plan.</p><p>It may not be possible for village leaders to issue an ironclad guarantee that having a park will never, ever require a tax increase. But with such a healthy reserve fund, the village should be able to build the park with careful budgeting that avoids the need to raise taxes.</p><p>Among the many reasons for Flat Rock to seize this opportunity is the chance to protect a valuable gateway to the village from possible development while providing residents of all ages with places to exercise and play. Longtime resident Cam Boyd was right to call it an opportunity that village council cannot pass up at this point and the single most important thing that this council can do to benefit Flat Rock’s future.</p><p>Flat Rock leaders have done an outstanding job of soliciting public input on this project. Barring unforeseen roadblocks, council should buy the golf course and begin the work of creating a park that will become a source of pride and a focal point for the community.</p>